Garment-clasp.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

o. KBMPER. GARMENT CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1905.

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oNrTn sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO KEMPER, OF BLOOMSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO J.T. TRACY, ONE-FOURTH TO H. W. DIETTERICK, AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANKIKELER, ALL OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYL- VANIA.

GARNIENT-GLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented.` Jan. 30, 1906.

Application led July 24,1905. Serial No. 271,049.

zen of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county ofColumbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Garment-Olasps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that type of garment clasps employed as asupporting or holding means for garments, and has special reference toan improved form of clasp possessing special utility as an engaging. andsupporting clasp for suspender-ends to take the place of thebuttonhole-tabs and buttons usually employed for the support oftrousers.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple, quick-acting, andeasily-manipulated clasp capable of being readily adjusted to any partof the trousers and comprising means for supporting both trousers anddrawers with a rm grip. In this connection the improved clasp embodiesmeans for clasping the garment in such a manner as to positively securethe same against slipping out of the clasp and without danger of tearingor snagging the garment, which is a common objecltion to many forms ofclasps now on the marret.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp havin a simple andpractical form of lock-lever for effecting the clasping action, while atthe same time embodying fastening means for securing or holding thelever in its closed or locking position.

With these and many other objects inview, which will readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention are susceptible to structuralmodification without departing from the scope thereof but a preferredembodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a-perspective view of a garmentclasp constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown in its applied position.Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the clasp with the parts in the positionsshown in Fig. 1. l Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the clasp, showing thelock-lever released or opened and also illustrating the clasp-bodyfitted with a connecting-loo for releasable engagement with the cast-oof a suspenderen Like references designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the body of the clasp (designated by thenumeral 1) is preferably formed of spring metal bent into U form toprovide the opposite resilient cheek-pieces 2 and 3, respectively. It isalso desirable and preferable to provide the U- shaped spring-body 1with strengthening or reinforcing beads 4, extending entirely about thebody at the closed end thereof and upon both sides. These beadsstrengthen the clasp sufficiently to permit the same tobemanufactured insmall but effective sizes. The opposite cheek-pieces 2 and 3 arearranged in substantially parallel relation, and near what may beproperly termed the outer end thereof. One of the cheek-pieces-forinstance, the piece 2-is provided therein with a depression or cavity 5,constituting a keeper-socket for receiving the garment or goods forcedand held therein by the swinging lock-lever 6, carried byA the oppositeresilient cheek-piece 3. The keeper-socket 5 is formed at its outer sidewith a bindingshoulder 7 and with an inclined or oblique clearance-wall8, leading to said shoulder to accommodate the engaging end of the lever6. This lever is in the form of a right-angled member or plate having atits angle the opposite pintles 9, pivotally mounted in the bearing-eyes10, formed at the outer extremities of the side arms 11 of the leveropening or bifurcation 12, formed in the resilient cheekpiece 8 for theaccommodation of the lock-lever.

The swinging lock-lever 6 has its inner engaging arm 13 arranged tosweep over the inclined clearance-wall 8 in its movement toward and fromthe binding-shoulder 7, while the outer operatin arm 14 of said levermoves toward and om the outer side of the cheek piece' 3. The said outeroperatingarm 14 carries a punched-out or equivalent fastening tongue 15,having a frictional or spring engagement with one end of theleveropening or bifurcation 12 when the lock-lever is moved to a closedposition, carrying IOO the goods into the keeper-socket and against thebinding-shoulder thereof. To release the clasp, it is simply necessaryto place the nail of a finger behind the end of the operating-arm 14 andto draw the same outward, thereby disengaging the fasteningtongue 15 anddrawing the engaging arm 13 out of the socket 5.

The clasp-body may be applied to a suspender-end in various ways. Forinstan'c'e," as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the said body may have fitted tothe closed end thereof a swiveled socket 16, to which is suitablyfastened the Suspender-end 17, or, as shown in Fig. 3, the clasp-bodymay be provided at its closed end with a wire or equivalentconnectingloop 18 for releasable engagement with the cast-off 19 of asuspender-end 2 0. This latter arrangement permits the Suspenders to beremoved Without unfastening or detaching the clasp.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, action, and manyadvantages of the herein-described clasp will be readily apparentwithout further description, and it will be understood that changes inthe form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resortedto Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, s`

A garment-clasp comprising a body having opposite resilientcheek-pieces, one of which is provided therein with a lever-opening, andthe other of which piece is provided in its inner side with a depressionconstituting a keeper socket and having a fiat bindingshoulder near oneend ofthe cheek-piece, and astraight inclined wall sloping to the baseof the shoulder, and a swinging lock-lever pivoted on the cheek-pieceopposite the socket and having an inner engaging arm whose point swingsover the inclined wall of the socket in opposition to the flat shoulder,said lever also having an outer operating arm provided with afastening-tongue having a snapping engagement with an edge of thelever-opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO KEMPER.

Witnesses:

MILES BETZ, J. G. WELLs,

